Fabergé
Snail c. 1910
Chalcedony, jasper | 4.5 x 10.0 x 3.7 cm (whole object) | RCIN 40254
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A snail, the base carved from pale grey-green chalcedony, the shell of translucent jasper in shades of blue-grey, rust, mauve and pastel greens.
Occasionally different stones were combined by the carvers to give the most realistic effect, a technique described by Birbaum as ‘mosaic sculpture’. Here the carving and polishing of the hardstones immediately evokes both the shiny hard surface of the snail’s shell and the soft flesh of its body. This snail is one of the group of animals that formed part of Princess Victoria’s collection.
Text adapted from Fabergé in the Royal CollectionProvenance
Commissioned by King Edward VII, 1907 (the Sandringham Commission); Princess Victoria
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Creator(s)
(jeweller)Acquirer(s)
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Medium and techniques
Chalcedony, jasper
Measurements
4.5 x 10.0 x 3.7 cm (whole object)
Category
Object type(s)